Two New Cosponsors for Chain Migration Bill

California Rep. Bob Filner and Minnesota Rep. John Kline have just added their names to the list of cosponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey’s H.R. 878 (Nuclear Family Priority Act).

The bill now has 25 cosponsors who are trying to relieve population pressure on America’s environmental resources, on congested communities and on depressed labor markets.

Rep. Bob Filner became the first Democrat to cosponsor the bill. His sponsorship may show a change of attitude towards protecting American workers with some Members of Congress since Filner has not previously shown interest in restraining chain migration.

“We are overjoyed to welcome Congressman Filner’s support for this key recommendation made by the late Barbara Jordan and her bi-partisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform,” NumbersUSA President Roy Beck said. “In addition, Pres. Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development recommended deep cuts in authorized immigration to improve U.S. stewardship over the environment. In order to finally win on this important sustainability issue, many more environmental champions will need to take the step Mr. Filner has taken.” 

Roy also saluted Republican Rep. John Kline for stepping forward for the second straight Congress to end the Chain Migration categories that were created in the 1950s.  His overall efforts on immigration issues have earned him a recent grade of a B+.

The current annual limits on greencards are 65,000 adult brothers and sisters, 23,400 married sons and daughters and 23,400 unmarried adult sons and daughters. H.R. 878 would eliminate all three categories and not provide an increase in any other category, thereby directly decreasing overall immigration by 111,800 per year (1.118 million a decade). This would indirectly reduce the numbers by even more over time as there would be fewer recent immigrants who are the ones most likely to bring people into the country as spouses or parents of U.S. citizens.